10 June 2026 – TSUNEISHI TIMOR SHIPBUILDING, UNIPESSOAL, LDA. (TTS), the Timor-Leste base of TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd., held a Welcoming Ceremony for its third intake of new employees at Hotel Timor in Dili, Timor-Leste.

The ceremony was attended by His Excellency Dr José Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste; representatives from relevant government ministries and agencies; His Excellency Mr YAMAMOTO Yasushi, Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste; representatives of the National University of Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL); and representatives from TTS and the TSUNEISHI Group, who gathered to celebrate the beginning of the new employees’ professional careers.

This year, 19 graduates, primarily from UNTL, joined TTS as design engineers, forming the company’s third intake since its establishment in 2024. With the addition of the new employees, the number of local staff at TTS has increased to 58. The new employees are expected to develop into skilled professionals who will support the future industrial development of Timor-Leste, while acquiring specialised knowledge and technical expertise in shipbuilding and ship design.

During the ceremony, Mr KUBO Takahiro, President of TTS, delivered a welcoming address and said, “The most important thing is for the people of Timor-Leste to acquire the skills and eventually build ships through their own expertise. I look forward to the day when vessels designed and built by those who have grown here set sail on the seas of Timor-Leste. Let us make that dream come true together.”

Mr OKUMURA Sachio, President & CEO of TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING, also delivered a message of encouragement, stating, “As members of the third intake of TTS, you possess limitless potential. Colleagues throughout our Group in Japan, the Philippines and China stand ready to support you. I hope you will embrace challenges and grow into engineers who will one day help lead both TTS and the future development of Timor-Leste.”

In his congratulatory remarks, His Excellency Mr YAMAMOTO Yasushi, Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste, encouraged the new employees, saying, “Please learn from your senior colleagues, support one another, and take on challenges with courage.” He also expressed his expectations for TTS’s human resource development efforts, noting that “the skills you will gain here will become an asset not only for yourselves, but also for your communities, and your country.”

In his address, His Excellency Dr José Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, reflected on the long-standing relationship between Timor-Leste and Japan and spoke about Japan’s development and technological capabilities. He also expressed his expectations for TTS, stating that the project had grown into something “even better, bigger than I ever thought about,” and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting the company’s development. Furthermore, he encouraged the new employees to continue learning with discipline, responsibility and a strong work ethic, while expressing his hope that they would grow into professionals who will contribute to the future development of Timor-Leste.

The ceremony also featured an address by a representative of the new employees, as well as a performance of “Lemorai”, a song widely cherished in Timor-Leste, celebrating the arrival of the new team members. The ceremony concluded in a celebratory atmosphere, reflecting optimism for the future of the new employees and the continued development of local talent in Timor-Leste.

Through TTS, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING will continue contributing to the development of Timor-Leste’s shipbuilding industry by cultivating maritime engineers and supporting the growth of new industries in the country.

Photo: H.E. Dr José Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, delivering congratulatory remarks

Photo: H.E. Mr YAMAMOTO Yasushi, Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste, delivering congratulatory remarks

Photo: Scenes from the Welcoming Ceremony

Photo: New Employees of TTS at the Welcoming Ceremony

Photo (from left): Mr KUBO Takahiro, President of TTS; Mr OKUMURA Sachio, President & CEO of TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING; H.E. Dr José Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste; and H.E. Mr YAMAMOTO Yasushi, Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste.